Vatican City, 18 March 2013 (VIS)  In the press conference held today, Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J., director of the Press Office of the Holy See, focused on two themes: Pope Francis' first audiences and details of the Mass inaugurating the Petrine Ministry of the Bishop of Rome.

First, Fr. Lombardi relayed the information that the Holy Father was, at the moment, having lunch with the President of Argentina, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, whom he received at the Domus Sanctae Marthae in a private meeting that lasted around 20 minutes, afterwards greeting the other members of the Argentine delegation. Also this morning, at 10:00am, Francis received in audience Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone, S.D.B. Yesterday afternoon he had two very cordial audiences, one with the Bishop of Albano, Italy, and the other with the Superior General of the Jesuits, Fr. Adolfo Nicolas Pachon.

The main part of the press conference was dedicated to how the Mass inaugurating the Petrine Ministry of the Bishop of Rome will be celebrated. The correct term for the ceremony, Fr. Lombardi clarified, is not enthronement but inauguration. As successor of Peter, the Pope is Bishop of Rome and the Church of Rome 'presides in love' over the others. Also, it is a celebration rich with symbols that recall the Pope's tie to St. Peter, beginning with the place where, according to tradition, Peter was martyred.

The Press Office Director also explained where those participating in and attending the Mass will be located. On the left-hand side of the 'Sagrato' (porch of the Basilica) will be seated bishops and archbishops (around 250 are expected), ecclesiastics, and delegations from other Churches and Christian confessions. On the right-hand side of the 'Sagrato' will be delegations from various countries lead by heads of state, ministers, etc. On the St. Peters statue side of the piazza will be seated Jews, Muslims, and members of other religions, then around 1200 priests and seminarians. On the St. Pauls statue side of the piazza will be seated the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See and other civil authorities. The rest of the piazza will be standing-room for all those without tickets. A large number is expected to attend.

Between 8:45 and 8:50am the Pope will depart the Domus Sanctae Marthae and start to move through the crowd in the various sections of the piazzaeither in the Jeep or the Popemobileand greet those gathered. He will return to the Sacristy, via the Pietà side, around 9:15am. Mass is planned to begin at 9:30am.

Regarding the beginning of the ceremony, the Pope, once having entered the Basilica, will head to the Confession (St. Peters tomb under the high altar) while trumpets will announce the Tu es Petrus. The Pope will venerate the tomb of St. Peter, together with the Patriarchs and Major Archbishops of the Eastern Rite Catholic Churches (ten in number, four of whom are cardinals). He will then be presented with the Pallium, Ring, and Book of the Gospels that were placed at St. Peters tomb the night before.

The Holy Father will then come back up from the Confession to the main floor of the Basilica, from which the procession continues. The Laudes Regiae (Christ is King) will be chanted, with some invocations taken from the Vatican II document on the Church, Lumen Gentium. In the Litany of Saints are particularly to be noted, after the Apostles, the Holy Roman Pontiffs who have been canonized up to the most recent: St. Pius X. Fr. Lombardi clarified that these are only the pontiffs who have been named as saints, not those who have been beatified. The procession will then make its entrance into the square.

Fr. Lombardi listed who will be concelebrating the Mass with Francis: all the cardinals present in Rome, joined by the Patriarchs and Major Eastern Rite Archbishops (6); the Secretary of the College of Cardinals; and two Superior Generals (that of the Order of Friars Minor, Jose Rodriguez Carballo and that of the Jesuits, Adolfo Nicolas Pachon, respectively President and Vice-President of the Union of Superior Generals). In total about 180 are expected to concelebrate and they will be seated at the left (that is, in front of the ecclesiastics, not the national delegations).

Before the Mass begins there are the rites specific to the beginning of the Bishop of Rome's Petrine Ministry. These include:

The Imposition of the Pallium:
Made of lambs wool and sheeps wool, the Pallium is placed on the Pope's shoulders recalling the Good Shepherd who carries the lost sheep on his shoulders. The Popes Pallium has five red crosses while the Metropolitans Palliums have five black crosses. The one used by Francis is the same one that Benedict XVI used. It is placed on the Popes shoulders by Cardinal proto-deacon Tauran and, after the imposition, there is a prayer recited by Cardinal proto-presbyter Daneels.

The Fishermans Ring:
Peter is the fisherman Apostle, called to be a fisher of men. The ring is presented to the Pope by Cardinal Deacon Sodano (first of the Order of Bishops). It bears the image of St. Peter with the keys. It was designed by Enrico Manfrini The ring was in the possession of Archbishop Macchi, Pope Paul VI's personal secretary, and then Msgr. Malnati, who proposed it to Pope Francis through Cardinal Re. It is made of silver and gold.

The Obedience:
Six cardinals, two from each order, among the first of those present approach the Pope to make an act of obedience. Note that all the Cardinal electors already made an act of obedience in the Sistine Chapel at the end of the Conclave and that all the cardinals were able to meet the Pope in the following days audience in the Clementine Hall. Also, at the moment of taking possession of the Cathedral of RomeSt. John Lateranit is expected that the act of obedience will be made by representatives of the various members of the People of God.

The Mass will be that of the Solemnity of St. Joseph, which has its own readings (therefore they are not directly related to the rite of the Inauguration of the Pontificate). The Gospel will be proclaimed in Greek, as at the highest solemnities, to show that the universal Church is made up of the great traditions of the East and the West. Latin, Fr. Lombardi said, is already abundantly present in the other prayers and Mass parts.

The Pope will give his homily in Italian and, as is his style, it probably will not follow the written text strictly, but will contain improvisations.

Fr. Lombardi said that the Master of Celebrations expects that the ceremony will not last much more than two hours and, always with the intention of simplification and not making the rite overly long, there will not be an Offertory procession. The Eucharistic gifts will be brought to the altar by the ministers who prepare the altar. Also, the Pope will not distribute Communion, which will be done by the deacons on the Sagrato and, in the various areas of the piazza, by priests.

Regarding the music for the ceremony, several moments are notable. When the Pope enters the Basilica silver trumpets will ring out the Tu es Petrus. The Laudes Regiae will be chanted during the procession from St. Peters tomb to the Sagrato. A 14 piece brass ensemble will play at various moments of the celebration. During the Offertory the Tu es pastor ovium (You Are the Shepherd of the Sheep) motet composed by Pierluigi da Palestrina precisely for the Inauguration of the Pontificate will be sung. At the conclusion, the Te Deum will be sung with verses alternating between Gregorian chant and a melody by Tomas Luis de Victoria. As it will not be held on a Sunday, there will be no Angelus after the Mass.

At the end of the celebration, and after removing the Liturgical vestments, the Pope will go to the Basilicas high altar, before which he will greet the heads of the official delegations from various countries who will pass before him. He will then go to the Domus Sanctae Marthae for lunch.

Other delegations staying in Rome can meet with Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, S.D.B., secretary of State of His Holiness, and Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, secretary for Relations with States the following day, Wednesday (for example, the President of Brazil in light of the upcoming World Youth Day). As is known, the Pope will receive delegations of the Christian Churches and Ecclesial Communities and of other religions in audience on Wednesday.

At the present moment, the main delegations that are expected to attend are:
- 33 delegations representing Christian Churches and Ecclesial Communities (14 Oriental; 10 Western; 3 Christian organizations; others). Among these will be present: Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I; Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of all Armenians Karekin II; Metropolitan Hilarion of the Patriarchate of Moscow; many metropolitans; Anglican Archbishop Sentamu; Secretary of the World Council of Churches Fykse Tveit; etc.

- 16 members of important Jewish delegations including: the Jewish community of Rome; international Jewish committees; the Chief Rabbinate of Israel; the World Jewish Congress; the Anti-Defamation League, etc.

- As well as delegations of Muslims, Buddhists, Sikhs, Jainists, etc.

To date, delegations of various sizes and levels from 132 countries have confirmed their attendance.

The delegations, Fr. Lombardi emphasized, are coming to Rome following information of the event made public by the Secretary of State. There were no 'invitations' sent out. All who wish to come are warmly welcomed. It must be made clear that no one has privileged status or will be refused. The order will depend on protocol and the level of the delegation.

Naturally, the most important delegations will be those from Argentina, led by President Cristina Kirchner and Italy, led by President Napolitano and Prime Minister Monti with presidents of the Italian Senate, House, and Constitutional Court.

Also expected are six reigning sovereigns (Belgium, Monaco ); 31 heads of state (Austria, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Canada, Poland, Portugal, European Union ); three crown princes (Spain, Holland, Bahrain); 11 heads of government (Germany, France, the Vice President of the United States, ); and delegations led by: first ladies, vice presidents, vice prime ministers, parliament presidents, ministers, ambassadors, and other dignitaries.

Papal Coat of Arms:
The last topic that Fr. Lombardi covered was the now pontiff's papal coat of arms and motto. These are the same that he used as bishop. The shield has a bright blue background, at the centre top of which is a yellow radiant sun with the IHS christogram on it representing Jesus (it is also the Jesuit logo). The IHS monogram, as well as a cross that pierces the H, are in red with three black nails directly under them. Under that, to the left, is a star representing Mary, Mother of Christ and the Church. To the right of the star is a nard flower representing Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church. With these symbols the Pope demonstrates his love for the Holy Family.

What distinguishes his coat of arms as pontiff is that, instead of the wide-brimmed, red cardinal's hat atop the shield, it is now bears the same symbols of papal dignity as that of Benedict XVI: the papal mitre and crossed silver and gold keys joined by a red cord.

His mottomiserando atque eligendo (because he saw him through the eyes of mercy and chose him)is taken from the Venerable Bede's homily on the Gospel account of the call of Matthew. It holds special meaning for the Pope becausewhen he was only 17-years-old, after going to confession on the Feast of St. Matthew in 1953he perceived God's mercy in his life and felt the call to the priesthood, following the example of St. Ignatius of Loyola.

Vatican City, 18 March 2013 (VIS)  This morning the Holy Father Francis received in private audiences at the Domus Sancthae Marthae:

- Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone, S.D.B., and

- Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, President of Argentina.

Yesterday afternoon at the Domus Sancthae Marthae, he received:

- Bishop Marcello Semeraro of Albano, Italy, and

- Fr. Adolfo Nicolas Pachon, Superior General of the Society of Jesus.

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. FRANCIS' FIRST TWEET: THANK YOU AND PRAY FOR ME
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Vatican City, 18 March 2013 (VIS) - Dear Friends, I offer my heartfelt thanks and ask you to continue to pray for me. Pope Francis' first tweet was sent after yesterday's Angelus. The twitter account @ponitfex, in nine languages, has been reactivated and already has 3,400,000 followers.

Vatican City, 17 March 2013 (VIS)  This morning, Pope Francis celebrated Mass at the Vatican parish of St. Anna, the doors of which were crowded from the earliest morning hours with a large number of people. The pontiff was greeted by Cardinal Angelo Comastri, his vicar general for Vatican City State.

Today's Gospel, on this Fifth Sunday in Lent, narrates the story of the adulterous woman whom the Pharisees want to stone. Instead, Christ forgives her, and those who accused her disperse, intimidated by Jesus' bending down to write on the ground with His finger.

In his homily, the Holy Father recalled that, before this story, Jesus had retired to the mountain to pray and later had gone down to the Temple where everyone listened to him. In the end, they left him alone with the woman. Jesus' solitude!, he said. It is a fruitful solitudeboth that of His prayer with the Father as well as the other, so beautiful, ... of his mercy toward this woman. This is the Church's message today.

There is a difference between the people, he continued. On the one hand are the people who come to listen to him and before whom He takes a seat and teaches. These are the people who want to listen to Jesus' words; the people with open hearts, in need of the Word of God. Nevertheless, there were others who didn't listen, who could not listen. Among those were the ones who had gone to him with that woman, wanting him to condemn her. I also think we are like this people who, on the one hand want to listen to Jesus, but, on the other hand, at times, like to be cruel to others, isn't that right? To condemn others, right? This is Jesus' message: mercy. On my part, I say it with humility; this is the the Lord's strongest message: mercy. He himself said: 'I did not come for the righteous'. The righteous can justify themselves. Jesus came for the sinners.

For example, think of the gossip after the call of Matthew: 'but that one keeps company with sinners!' And He has come for us, when we recognize that we are sinners. But if we are like the Pharisee before the altar'Oh God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanitygreedy, dishonest, adulterousor even like this tax collector.'then we do not know the Lord's heart and we will never have the joy of feeling this mercy! It is not easy to trust in God's mercy because it is an incomprehensible abyss. But we must do it!

The Pope explained that sometimes people say to priests: 'Oh, Father, if you knew my life you wouldn't say that.' 'Why? What have you done?' 'Oh, I've done bad things.' 'Good! Go to Jesus; He likes you to tell him these things. He forgets. He has the special ability to forget. He forgets them, kisses you, embraces you, and tells you only: 'Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more.' He only gives you this counsel. A month later we are the same We return to the Lord. The Lord never tires of forgiving us, never! We are the ones who get tired of asking forgiveness. Let us ask for the grace to never tire of asking forgiveness, because He never tires of forgiving us. Let us ask for this grace.

At the end of the Mass, the Pope presented some of those who were present at the celebration:

Here are a few who aren't parishioners, these Argentinian priests. One is my auxiliary bishop but today they are my parishioners. I also want you to meet a priest who comes from very far away and is here: a priest who, for a long time, has worked with street kids and drug addicts. He opened a school for them and has done many things so that they might know Jesus. All of those street kids have a job today thanks to what they were able to study. They are capable of working. They believe in and love Jesus. The Pope then addressed the priests, saying: Come, come and greet the people. And to all: Pray for this man. He works in Uruguay. He is the founder of the John Paul II high school; that's his job. I don't know how he got here today. I'll find out! Thank you. Pray for him.

After greeting the parishioners, the Pope appeared at the Vatican's Porta Angelica Street, next to the Santa Anna Gate that is one of the entrances into the Vatican City State, to greet the thousands of people who wanted to see him before he prayed his first Angelus as Pope.

Vatican City, 17 March 2013 (VIS)  Never forget this: the Lord never tires of forgiving us. Have you thought about the patience that God has with each of us? These were the words that Pope Francis addressed to the nearly 200,000 people who had travelled from around Italy and from around the world in previous days to be able to live this first Angelus with the new Pope.

The event lasted only 15 minutes, many of which passed in attentive silence from the people assembled. If God did not forgive us all, the world would not exist, the Holy Father affirmed. The Roman Pontiff, Francis, spoke only in Italian. In the crowd, on his father's shoulders, three-year-old Francesco said, in his child's language: I like. My Pope.

The event was days in planning. Through the mediaabove all TV and the radiomany already had an idea of who the new Pope is. I saw him on TV and I was moved by his humility. He is one of us, commented 30-year-old Angelica who had gotten up at 6:00am this morning to arrive at St. Peter's.

The Holy Father commented on the day's Gospel reading, the passages that recount the story of the adulterous woman. God's face is that of a merciful father who is always patient. He never tires of forgiving us if we know how to return to him with a contrite heart. 'Great is the Lord's mercy', was the new Pope's profound message. He combined his written text with spontaneous, off-the-cuff comments, which were full of good humour. Following is the complete text of the Pope's words.

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!, the Pope began. After our first meeting last Wednesday, today I again give my greetings to you all! And I am happy to do it on Sunday, the Lord's Day! This is beautiful and important for us Christians: to meet on Sunday, to greet one another, to talk as we are doing now, in the square. This square that, thanks to the media, takes on worldly dimensions.

In this Fifth Sunday of Lent, the Gospel presents us with the story of the adulterous woman whom Jesus saves from being condemned to death. It captures Jesus' attitude: we do not hear words of contempt, we do not hear words of condemnation, but only words of love, of mercy, that invite us to conversion. 'Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more!' Well, brothers and sisters! God's face is that of a merciful father who is always patient. Have you thought about God's patience, the patience that He has with each of us? That is His mercy. He always has patience, is always patient with us, understanding us, awaiting us, never tiring of forgiving us if we know how to return to him with a contrite heart. 'Great is the Lord's mercy', says the Psalm.

In these days, I have been able to read a book by a cardinalCardinal Kasper, a talented theologian, a good theologianon mercy. And it did me such good, that book, but don't think that I'm publicizing the books of my cardinals. That is not the case! But it did me such good, so much good... Cardinal Kasper said that hearing the word mercy changes everything. It is the best thing that we can hear: it changes the world. A bit of mercy makes the world less cold and more just. We need to understand God's mercy well, this merciful Father who has such patience... Think of the prophet Isaiah who asserts that even if our sins were scarlet red, God's love would make them white as snow. That is beautiful, [this aspect of mercy]. I remember when, just after I was made bishop, in 1992, the Madonna of Fatima came to Buenos Aires and a large Mass for the sick was celebrated. I went to hear confessions at that Mass. Near the end of the Mass I got up because I had to administer a confirmation. An over 80-year-old woman came up to me, humbly, very humbly. I asked her: 'Nonna [grandmother]because that's how we address our elderlyNonna, you want to confess?' 'Yes', she told me. 'But if you haven't sinned...' And she said to me: 'We have all sinned...' 'But perhaps the Lord will not forgive you...' 'The Lord forgives everyone', she told me, with certainy. 'But how do you know that, ma'am?' 'If the Lord didn't forgive everyone, the world would not exist.' I wanted to ask her: 'Tell me, have you studied at the Gregorian [Pontifical University]?', because that is the wisdom that the Holy Spirit gives: the inner wisdom of God's mercy. Let us not forget this word: God never tires of forgiving us, never! 'So, Father, what is the problem?' Well, the problem is that we get tired, we don't want to, we get tired of asking forgiveness. Let us never get tired. Let us never get tired. He is the loving Father who always forgives, who has that heart of mercy for all of us. And let us also learn to be merciful with everyone. Let us call upon the intercession of the Madonna who has held in her arms the Mercy of God made human.

After praying the Angelus, the Pope greeted the tens of thousands of faithful who overflowed St. Peter's Square: Thank you for your welcome and your prayers, he said. I ask that you pray for me. I renew my embrace to the faithful of Rome and extend it to all of you who have come from various parts of Italy and the world just as to those who are joining in with us by means of the media. I have chosen the name of the Patron Saint of Italy, St. Francis of Assisi, and this reinforces my spiritual ties to this land that, as you know, is where my family originated. But Jesus has called us to be part of a new family: his Church. [He has called] this family of God to walk together the paths of the Gospel. May the Lord bless you and the Virgin protect you! And don't forget this: The Lord never tires of forgiving. We are the ones who tire of asking forgiveness.

The Pope's final words to the crowd gathered in the square were greeted with deafening applause: Have a good Sunday and enjoy your lunch! They were only 15 minutes, a quarter of an hour that, for many thousands, held a stronger interest than the other two competing activities taking place in Rome today: the city's marathon and the Quirinal Palace's open house.

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. POPE FRANCIS: OH, HOW I WISH FOR A CHURCH THAT IS POOR AND FOR THE POOR!
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Vatican City, 16 March 2013 (VIS)  This morning in the the Paul VI Audience Hall, the Holy Father greeted over 6,000 journalists and those working in the media as well as for the Holy See, accredited either permanently or temporarily, to cover the events related to the Conclave. He addressed them with the following words:

Dear friends, I am pleased, at the beginning of my ministry in the See of Peter, to meet with you who have worked here in Rome at this very intense period that began with the surprising announcement of my venerated predecessor Benedict XVI, this past 11 February. I warmly greet each of you.

The role of the mass media has been continuously growing in recent times, he said, so much so that it has become essential to narrate the events of contemporary history to the world. I therefore especially thank you for your distinguished service these past few daysyou have had a bit of work to do, haven't you?when the eyes of the Catholic world, and not only, were turned toward the Eternal City, in particular to this area that has St. Peter's tomb as its focal point. In these past few weeks you've gotten a chance to talk about the Holy See, the Church, her rites and traditions, her faith, and, in particular, the role of the Pope and his ministry.

A particularly heart-felt thanks goes to those who have been able to observe and present these events in the Church's history while keeping in mind the most just perspective in which they must be read, that of faith. Historical events almost always require a complex reading that, at times, can also include the dimension of faith. Ecclesial events are certainly not more complicated than political or economic ones. But they have one particularly fundamental characteristic: they answer to a logic that is not mainly that of, so to speak, worldly categories, and this is precisely why it is not easy to interpret and communicate them to a wide and varied audience. In fact, the Church, although it is certainly also a human, historical institution with all that that entails, does not have a political nature but is essentially spiritual: it is the people of God, the holy people of God who walk toward the encounter with Jesus Christ. Only by putting oneself in this perspective can one fully explain how the Catholic Church works.

Christ is the Church's Shepherd, but His presence in history moves through human freedom. Among these, one is chosen to serve as his Vicar, Successor of the Apostle Peter, but Christ is the centre, the fundamental reference, the heart of the Church! Without Him, neither Peter nor the Church would exist or have a reason for being. As Benedict XVI repeated often, Christ is present and leads His Church. In everything that has happened, the protagonist is, ultimately, the Holy Spirit. He has inspired Benedict XVI's decision for the good of the Church; He has guided the cardinals in their prayers and in their election. Dear friends, it is important to take due account of this interpretive horizon, this hermeneutic, to bring the heart of the events of these days into focus.

From this is born, above all, a renewed and sincere thanks for your efforts in these particularly challenging days, but also an invitation to always seek to know more the Church's true nature and the spiritual motivations that guide her and that are the most authentic for understanding her. Rest assured that the Church, for her part, is very attentive to your precious work. You have the ability to gather and express the expectations and needs of our times, to provide the elements necessary to read reality. Like many other professions, your job requires study, sensitivity, and experience but it bears with it a particular attention to truth, goodness, and beauty. This makes us particularly close because the Church exists to communicate Truth, Goodness, and Beauty 'in person'. It should be clear that we are all called, not to communicate ourselves, but rather this existential triad that shapes truth, goodness, and beauty.

Then, putting aside his written text, the Pope said: Some people didn't know why the Bishop of Rome wanted to call himself 'Francis'. Some though of Francis Xavier, Francis de Sales, even Francis of Assisi. I will tell you the story. At the election I had the archbishop emeritus of Sao Paulo next to me. He is also prefect emeritus of the Congregation for the Clergy, Cardinal Claudio Hummes [O.F.M.]: a dear, dear friend. When things were getting a little 'dangerous', he comforted me. And then, when the votes reached the two-thirds, there was the usual applause because the Pope had been elected. He hugged me and said: 'Do not forget the poor.' And that word stuck here [tapping his forehead]; the poor, the poor. Then, immediately in relation to the poor I thought of Francis of Assisi. Then I thought of war, while the voting continued, until all the votes [were counted]. And so the name came to my heart:: Francis of Assisi. For me he is the man of poverty, the man of peace, the man who love and safeguards Creation. In this moment when our relationship with Creation is not so goodright?He is the man who gives us this spirit of peace, the poor man Oh, how I wish for a Church that is poor and for the poor! Afterwards, people were making various comments: 'You should call yourself Hadrian because Hadrian VI was a reformer. We need reform.' And someone else said to me: 'No, no, your name should be Clement.' 'But why?' 'Clement XV so you can pay back Clement XIV who suppressed the Society of Jesus!' These were the jokes."

I wish the best for you, I thank you for everything that you have done. And I think of your work: I wish you to work fruitfully and with serenity and to always know better the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the reality of the Church. I entrust you to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Star of evangelization. I I wish the best for you and your families, for each of your families, and I wholeheartedly impart to all of you the blessing.

After personally greeting some of the journalists present, Pope Francis, in Spanish, concluded: I told you I wholeheartedly imparted my blessing. Many of you don't belong to the Catholic Church, others are not believers. From my heart I impart this blessing, in silence, to each of you, respecting the conscience of each one, but knowing that each of you is a child of God: May God bless you.

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. HOLY FATHER PROVISIONALLY CONFIRMS HEADS AND MEMBERS OF ROMAN CURIA
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Vatican City, 16 March 2013 (VIS)  Holy Father Francis has expressed the desire that the Heads and members of the Dicasteries of the Roman Curia, as well as their Secretaries, and also the President of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State, continue "donec aliter provideatur", that is, provisionally, in their respective positions.

The Holy Father wishes to reserve time for reflection, prayer, and dialogue before any final appointment or confirmation is made.

Vatican City, 16 March 2013 (VIS)  Yesterday afternoon, Pope Francis paid a visit to Cardinal Jorge Mejia in the Pius XI private clinic. Cardinal Mejia, who is 90 years old, is archivist and librarian emeritus of the Holy Roman Church. The clinic's patients and personnel were very surprised by the encounter with the new pontiff and greeted him with warm applause. The Pope, in his address to the College of Cardinals yesterday in the Clementine Hall, informed them of the heart attack that the cardinal had suffered.

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. ACTIVITIES OF THE HOLY FATHER
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Vatican City, 16 March 2013 (VIS)  Following is a list of the upcoming activities of the Holy Father scheduled between 17 and 24 March.

17 March, Sunday: 10:00am, private Mass in the Vatican parish of Santa Ana.
12:00pm, Angelus from the window of his private study overlooking St. Peter's Square.

18 March, Monday: 12:50pm, meeting with the President of the Republic of Argentina at the Domus Sancthae Marthae.

19 March, Tuesday: 9:30am, Eucharistic celebration to inaugurate the new pontiff's Petrine ministry in St. Peter's Square (Entrance into the square will be permitted beginning at 6:30am. No tickets will be issued for that Mass. All who wish may attend.) Afterwards, before the Altar of the Confession in the Basilica, he will receive the greetings of heads of official delegations and later will return to the Domus Sancthae Marthae for lunch.

22 March, Friday: 11:00am, audience with members of the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See in the Sala Regia of the Vatican Apostolic Palace.

23 March, Saturday: 12:00pm, departure in helicopter from the Vatican heliport. At 12:15pm he will meet and lunch with Pope emeritus Benedict XVI at Castel Gandolfo and will then return to the Vatican.

Father Dante DiGirolamo, 87, of Kearny, N.J., and Nutley, N.J., passed away on Friday, March 15, 2013, at Clara Maass Transitional Care Center in Belleville, N.J. The reception of Fr. Dante will be held at Holy Family Church, 28 Brookline Ave., Nutley, on Wednesday at 2 p.m. Rev. DiGirolamo will lie in repose at Holy Family Church on Wednesday from 2 to 7 p.m., and from 9 to 10 a.m. on Thursday. A Vigil Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. Archbishop John J. Myers will celebrate the Funeral Mass at Holy Family Church on Thursday at 10:30 a.m. The interment will follow at St. John's Cemetery, Orange, N.J. Born in Castevecchio Calvisio, Italy, he was born the fourth of six children to Camillo and Vincenza DiGirolamo. At the age of 11 he entered the minor seminary to study with the Marist Fathers in Castiglione Fiorentino in Tuscany. Later, he studied at the major seminary in Turin, finishing the last two years at the Gregorian University in Rome while studying theology. Fr. Dante was ordained a priest in 1948 at the age of 23. After receiving his license in theology, he was assigned to teach at the Marist Seminary in Cavagnolo, Turin. In 1954, he was asked to spend the summer in New Jersey preaching at Italian festivals and various parishes. In 1957, he was sent back to New Jersey permanently and incardinated into the Archdiocese of Newark. He was assigned to Immaculate Conception Parish in Newark from 1958 to 1961 while teaching Italian at the Divinity Class at Seton Hall University. In 1962, Fr. Dante was assigned to St. John's Church in Orange where he was granted permission to offer Masses in Spanish. Archbishop Boland entrusted him with the task of translating many documents from English into Latin for presentation to the Holy Father in Rome. Father Dante was the rector at St. Anthony's Shrine in Kearny from 1958 to 1991. He was always devoted to the Face of Jesus as revealed in the Shroud of Turin and in 1991 was appointed director of the Eucharistic Shrine of the Adorable Face of Jesus in Kearny. A Fourth Degree Knight in the Knights of Columbus, Fr. Dante was awarded the Italian Heritage Award in the 2012 Nutley-Belleville Columbus Day Parade. He is survived by his brother, Samuel DiGirolamo; and many nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions the Holy Family Day Nursery, 174 Franklin Ave., Nutley, N.J. 07110 would be preferred.

Father Dante served as the Director of the Mama Gili Guild. The new Director will be posted on our "Link 8. THE BEATIFICATION OF MAMA GILI" below when made available.

Lord, look kindly on our Holy Father Pope Francis and strengthen him
with all the graces necessary to perform his duties as Your Vicar here on earth.
Guard and protect him from all evil. Grant him excellent health of mind and
body. Empower him to transform the world through Your most Holy Being. Empower
him to convert sinners and warm the chilled heart that has grown cold. Bless the
Holy See over which he presides in Your place so that they may all be one as You
prayed at Your Last Supper. Enkindle the fire of Your love in him and in all the
faithful so that together we may work towards fulfilling Your Most Holy Will for
us and the whole world. Amen.

(permission granted to everyone to copy and distribute this prayer for Pope Francis)

The following prayer is recommended to be said each day for Benedict XVI
during "The Year of Faith" and for the remainder of his life as a the former
Vicar of Christ.

PRAYER FOR BENEDICT XVI

Lord, look kindly on Benedict XVI and strengthen him with all the graces
necessary to perform his duties here on earth. Guard and protect him from all
evil. Grant him excellent health of mind and body. Empower him to transform the
world through Your most Holy Being. Empower him to convert sinners and warm the
chilled heart that has grown cold. Enkindle the fire of Your love in him and in
all the faithful so that together we may work towards fulfilling Your Most Holy
Will for us and the whole world. Amen.

(permission granted to everyone to copy and distribute this prayer for Benedict XVI)

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Roman Catholic News is very happy to announce new exciting links
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audio recordings as copy go to EWTN Live TV and Radio on the link
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The Mama Gili Guild was established several years ago to gather, collect, and
publish information on Dolores Immacolata Gili (1892-1985) for an investigation
into her cause as a Servant of God, as well as to promote her cause and to
perpetuate her cult by directing prayer groups assembled in her honor. It has
continuously enjoyed the ecclesiastical approval of Theodore Cardinal McCarrick,
and the Most Reverend John Joseph Myers, Archbishop of Newark, New Jersey.

Get a copy of the book about Mama Gili written by her eldest daughter Claudia
(now deceased). Claudia Gili Phaneuf, Dolores Immacolata Gili: Mama Gili (Mama
Gili Guild, 1989). The 2005 Edition is available from the Mama Gili Guild by
contacting Fr. Dante: address and phone number below. The cost of the book, last
time I checked, was $5.00 plus
postage.

Call or write today regarding favors granted through the intercession of Dolores
Immacolata "Mama" Gili," or, for more information about the book and the cause
of her investigation for canonization to:

The Benedictine monks of Abbaye Saint-Joseph de Clairval mail a free
monthly newsletter to anyone who requests it. Also free of charge are:
the tract about the divinity of Jesus Christ; tract about the Truths
of the Catholic Religion; scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, with
explanatory notice; the promises of the Sacred Heart; the mysteries of
the Rosary.

The Missionaries of the Poor (M.O.P.) is an international monastic order of
Brothers dedicated to "Joyful Service with Christ on the Cross" to serve the
poorest of the poor. The order was started in 1981 by Father Richard Ho Lung and
has now grown to over 500 brothers around the world.

The Missionaries of the Poor take vows of poverty, chastity, obedience and free
service to the poorest of the poor. We surrender all rights to our own material
possessions, bodily desires, will and remuneration for services rendered to the
poor. We have no private possessions, no bank accounts and live in
community--sharing all things in common. Our material needs are supplied by the
generosity of our supporters who share our faith, embrace our mission and offer
their own resources to serve the poor with and through us. There are three
basic ways you can help:

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. EUCHARISTIC PRAYER IN HONOR OF THE SORROWFUL HEART OF MARY

When the Eucharistic host is elevated at Mass say:

"Eternal Father, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, I
offer you the crucified Body of Your dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ,
in reparation for all the sins committed against you and for the
conversion and salvation of the whole world."

When the Eucharistic chalice is elevated at Mass say:

"Eternal Father, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, I
offer you the precious Blood of Your dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ,
in reparation for all the sins committed against you and for the
conversion and salvation of the whole world."
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"during this important time, as the eve of the new millennium
approaches unity among all Christians of the various confessions will
increase until they reach full communion." John Paul II, Tertio
Millennio Adveniente, 16

"Keep close to the Mother of God as if you were the child Jesus
clinging to her robes while walking down a dusty and busy crowded
street and you will always be safe."
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This will give you the archive of all of the articles in all issues.
There are four ways to access archived articles: (1) Go to the Home
Page panel on the far left and click on the word "Messages" just below
the word "Home"; (2) then click on the articles posted by date; (3) or
click on the blue Arabic numerals in the box for the month in the
yearly calendar window at the bottom of the page;(4)or type in a
keyword in the long rectangular white box alongside the long
rectangular button that reads SEARCH ARCHIVE, and then click that
button.
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